Punch-card programmer



Nov. 24, 1964 w. MEYER ETAL PUNCH-CARD PROGRAMMER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 7, 1962 Werner Meyer Hans ELsner Jn venfars AGENT Nov. 24, 1964 w,MEYER ETAL 3,158,419

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0 0 O O O O 0 o o 0 o o o o o o o o Werner Meyer Hans ELsner Jnvenfom WAG EN T United States Patent 6 Claims. (or. 339-18) Our presentinvention relates to a programmer in which punch cards with differentpatterns of perforations are used for the selective establishment ofcircuit connections between sets of input and output terminals.

It is'known to construct such programmers on the crossbar principle,i.e. with two orthogonally intersecting arrays of conductor stripscarried on respective supports that can be closely juxtaposed, withinterposition of a selected punch card, to permit the establishment ofconductive connections between certain strips of the two arrays by wayof the perforations present in the card. Since one of the supports mustbe at least partly removed from the other (e.g. swung out) to enable thewithdrawal and insertion of punch cards, inconveniences have resultedfrom the necessity of attaching external leads to the terminals of theconductor strips carried by the mov able support.

The general object of this invention is to provide a simple and compactdevice of this type in which this drawback is avoided.

In accordance with our present invention we mount both the input andoutput terminals on the same (preferably horizontal) support and alsoprovide on the latter a further array of conductor strips which arepositioned to register with respective strips on the other supportwhereby, with the aid of suitably resilient connectors traversing acarrier plate interposable between these supports adjacent a punch card,circuits are completed from selected' input terminals via associatedstrips of one array on the first support, respective strips on thesecond support and corresponding strips of the other array on the firstsupport to certain output terminals when the two supports areoperatively juxtaposed. In a preferred embodiment the supports arehingedly interconnected, the movable support being urged upwardly intoan inclined posi tion by one or more springs overcoming the weight ofthat support. It will be convenient to align the conductor strips of theadditional array on the first support with respective strips on thesecond support and to mount the two arrays of the first support ondifferent parts thereof at right angles to each other.

The invention will be described hereafter in greater detail, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a programmer accordin g to the inventionin open position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the closed programmer;and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a punch card adapted to be used with theprogrammer of FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 we have represented a programmer comprising ahorizontal first support 1 which, by means not further illustrated, maybe fixedly secured to a base plate carrying associated units such as asource of electric current and one or more loads (not shown). Support 1is essentially a flat rectangular plate covered at its upper surfacewith a dielectric layer 2 on which an array of transverse conductorstrips 3 are spacedly disposed so as to be insulated from one another. Aset of terminals 4-, serving for example as the input terminals of thesystem, are integral with respective conductors T; and adapt- "ice ed tobe connected, e.g. by soldering, to corresponding external leads fromthe power source or controller. A econd set of terminals 5a, serving forexample as output terminals individually connectable to external leadsfor the energization of the load or loads, constitute the extremities ofanother array of conductor strips 5 which extend transversely to thestrips 3 on a narrow marginal zone of support 1 spaced from the mainpart of that support'which carries the array 3.

A second support 7, of the same rectangular outline as support 1, ishinged to the latter by a pivot pin 9 and is provided with a dielectriclayer 8 having an array of longitudinally extending conductor strips 6disposed thereon. it will be noted that the strips 6 are perpendicularto the strips 3 but parallel to and respectively aligned with strips 5when the two supports 1, 7 are in their juxtaposed operative position. Apair of coil springs 10 tend to lift the support 7 from this operativeposition into the withdrawn position thereof, illustrated in FIG. 1,against the weight of this support and of a carrier plate 12 which canbe attached to it with the aid of screws (not shown) passing throughaligned bores 25 and 26 in plates 7 and 12, respectively. Locating pins11 on supporting plate 1 register with recesses 13 in carrier plate 12and also pass through holes 29in a punch card 24 (FIG. 3) which can beremovably placed on the support 1 while the programmer is in its openposition. To hold the programmer closed against the force of springs 10,supporting plate 7 is provided with a lug 23 engageable by anarticulated latch 22 on plate 1.

The carrier plate 12 is formed with perforations 15 accommodating twosets of connector pins 17 and 17:: respectively engageable with theconductor strips 3 and the conductor strips 5. Pins 17 and 17a are urgeddownwardly by associated contact springs 19 which bear upon heads 18 ofthese pins and are lodged in enlarged extensions 16 of the bores 15 opentoward the strips on insulating layer 8. The pins 17, only some of whichare shown in FIG. 1, are each disposed at the intersection of one of thestrips 3 with one of the strips 6; with in strips 6 on support 7 and 2strips 3 divided into two groups on support 1, as shown, the number ofpins 17 will thus be mm. The number of strips 5 equals the number m ofstrips 6; this is also the number ofpins 17a which are each positionedin line with a respective strip 6 and an associated strip 5.

Punch card 24 has perforations at the locations of some of the pins 17and also is shown to be formed with other perforations 21a, one for eachpin 17a. The presence of the same number of perforations 21a on all thepunch cards simplifies their manufacture, yet only some of theseperforations (i.e. those aligned with respective perforations 21) may beneeded for individual cards. Thus, the perforations 21a could also bereplaced by a larger cutout exposing the strips 5a to the pins 17a.

The circuits selectively establishable from an input terminal 4 to anoutput terminal 511 can be easily traced and will be seen to extend overthe associated strip 3, a pin 17 passing through a perforation 21 intocontact with that strip, a spring 19 bearing upon the head 18 of thatpin and upon an intersecting strip 6, another connector 19, 18, 17acontacting'th'e same strip 6, and the conductor strip 5 engaged by thepin 17a of the latter connector by way of a perforation 21a. The cards24 may, of course, be punched manually or automatically according to theprogram desired.

Modifications of the specific programmer described and illustrated are,of course, possible without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A punch-card programmer comprising a first insulating support, asecond insulating support removably overlying said first support, a setof input terminals on said first support, a set of output terminals onsaid first support, a first array of parallel conductor strips disposedon said first support, a second array of parallel conductor stripsdisposed on said second support in orthogonally intersectingrelationship with said first array, a third array of conductor stripsdisposed on said first support and insulated from said first array, theconductor strips of said first array being connected to respectiveterminals of one of said sets, the conductor strips of said third arraybeing connected to respective terminals of the other of said sets, acarrier plate interposed between said supports, a first set of resilientconnectors traversing said carrier plate at respective junction pointsof the conductor strips of said first and second arrays for establishingconductive contact therewith, and a second set of resilient connectorstraversing said carrier plate at locations registering with individualconductor strips of said second array and respective conductor strips ofsaid third array for establishing conductive contact therewith, saidcarrier plate and said first support being separable to receive a punchcard therebetween with perforations penetrable by certain of saidconnectors whereby circuits are completed between selected input andoutput terminals via the associated conductor strips and connectors.

2. A punch-card programmer comprising a first insu lating support, asecond insulating support removably overlying said first support, a setof input terminals on said first support, a set of output terminals onsaid first support, a first array of parallel conductor strips disposedon one part of said first support, a second array of parallel conductorstrips disposed on said second support in orthogonally intersectingrelationship with said first array, a third array of conductor stripstransverse to those of said first array and aligned with those of saidsecond array disposed on another part of said first support andinsulated from said first array, the conductor strips of said firstarray being connected to respective terminals of one of said sets, theconductor strips of said third array being connected to respectiveterminals of the other of said sets, a carrier plate interposed betweensaid supports, a first set of resilient connectors traversing saidcarrier plate at respective junction joints of the conductor strips ofsaid first and second arrays for establishing conductive contacttherewith, and a second set of resilient connectors traversing saidcarrier plate at locations registering with individual conductor stripsof said second array and aligned conductor strips of said third arrayfor establishing conductive contact therewith, said carrier plate andsaid first support being separable to receive a punch card therebetweenwith perforations penetrable by certain of said connectors wherebycircuits are completed between selected input and output terminals viathe associated conductor strips and connectors.

3. A punch-card programmer comprising a first insulating support, asecond insulating support hinged to said first support and swingablebetween an operative position adjacent said first support and awithdrawn position inclined with reference thereto, a set of inputterminals on said first support, a set of output terminals on said firstsupport, a first array of parallel conductor strips disposed on saidfirst support, a second array of parallel conductor strips disposed onsaid second support in orthogonally intersecting relationship with saidfirst array, a third array of conductor strips disposed on said firstsupport and insulated from said first array, the conductor strips ofsaid first array being connected to respective terminals of one of saidsets, the conductor strips of said third array being connected torespective terminals of the other of said sets, a carrier plate on saidsecond support facing said first support, a first set of resilientconnectors traversing said carrier plate at respective junction pointsof the conductor strips of said first and second arrays for establishingconductive contact therewith in the operative position of said secondsupport, and a second set of resilient connectors traversing saidcarrier plate at locations registering with individual conductor stripsof said second array and respective conductor strips of said third arrayfor establishing conductive contact therewith in the operative positionof said second support, said carrier plate and said first support beingseparable by a punch card inserted therebetween with perforationspenetrable by certain of said connectors whereby circuits are completedbetween selected input and output terminals via the associated conductorstrips and connectors.

4. A punch-card programmer comprising a substantially horizontal firstinsulating support, a second insulating support hinged to said firstsupport and swingable between an operative position adjacent said firstsupport and a withdrawn position inclined with reference thereto, a setof input terminals on said first support, a set of output terminals onsaid first support, a first array of parallel conductor strips disposedon said first support, a second array of parallel conductor stripsdisposed on said second support in orthogonally intersectingrelationship with said first array, a third array of conductor stripsdisposed on said first support and insulated from said first array, theconductor strips of said first array being connected to respectiveterminals of one of said sets, the conductor strips of said third arraybeing connected to respective terminals of the other of said sets, acarrier plate on said second support facing said first support, a firstset of resilient connectors traversing said carrier plate at respectivejunction points of the conductor strips of said first and second arraysfor establishing conductive contact therewith in the operative positionof said second support, a second set of resilient connectors traversingsaid carrier plate at locations registering with individual conductorstrips of said second array and conductor strips of said third array forestablishing conductive contact therewith in the operative position ofsaid second support, said carrier plate and said first support beingseparable by a punch card on said first support with perforationspenetrable by certain of said connectors whereby circuits are completedbetween selected input and output terminals via the associated conductorstrips and connectors, spring means anchored to said supports for urgingsaid second support into said withdrawn position, and latch means forholding said second support in said operative position against the forceof said spring means.

5. A punch-card programmer comprising a first insulat ing support, asecond insulating support hinged to said first support and swingablebetween an operative position adjacent said first support and awithdrawn position inclined with reference thereto, a set of inputterminals on said first support, a set of output terminals on said firstsupport, a first array of parallel conductor strips disposed on one partof said first support, a second array of parallel conductor stripsdisposed on said second support in orthogonally intersectingrelationship with said first array, a third array of conductor stripstransverse to those of said first array and aligned with those of saidsecond array disposed on another part of said first support andinsulated from said first array, the conductor strips of said firstarray being connected to respective terminals of one of said sets, theconductor strips of said third array being connected to respectiveterminals of the other of said sets, a carrier plate on said secondsupport facing said first support, a first set of resilient connectorstraversing said carrier plate at respective junction points of theconductor strips of said first and second arrays for establishingconductive contact therewith in the operative position of said secondsupport, and a second set of resilient connectors traversing saidcarrier plate at locations registering with individual conductor stripsof said second array and aligned conductor strips of said third arrayfor establishing conductive contact therewith 5 in the operativeposition of said second support, said carrier plate and said firstsupport being separable by a punch card therebetween with perforationspenetrable by certain of said connectors whereby circuits are completedbetween selected input and output terminals via the associated conductorstrips and connectors.

6. A punch-card programmer comprising a substantially horizontal firstinsulating support, a second insulating support hinged to said firstsupport and swingable between an operative position adjacent said firstsupport and a Withdrawn position inclined with reference thereto, a setof input terminals on said first support, a set of output terminals onsaid first support, a first array of parallel conductor strips disposedon one part oi said first support, a second array of parallel conductorstrips disposed on said second support in orthogonally intersectingrelationship with said first array, a third array of conductor stripstransverse to those of said first array and aligned with those of saidsecond array disposed on another part of said first support andinsulated from said first array, the conductor strips of said firstarray being connected to respective terminals of one of said sets, theconductor strips of said third array being connected to respectiveterminals of the other of said sets, a carrier plate on said secondsupport facing said first support, a first set of re silient connectorstraversing said carrier plate at respective junction points of theconductor strips of said first and second arrays for establishingconductive contact therewith in the operative position of said secondsupport, a second set of resilient connectors traversing said carrierplate at locations registering with individual conductor strips of saidsecond array and aligned conductor strips of said third array forestablishing conductive contact therewith in the operative position ofsaid second support, said carrier plate and said first support beingseparable by a punch. card on said first support with perforationspenetrable by certain of said connectors whereby circuits are completedbetween selected input and output termiriais via the associatedconductor strips and connectors, spring means anchored to said supportsfor urging said second support into said Withdrawn position, and latchmeans for noiding said second support in said operative position againstthe force of said spring means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATElJTS 2,286,812 6/42Keefe 33918 2,695,379 11/54 Myers et al.

2,744,172 5/56 Porter et al. 200-46 2,870,460 1/ 59 Hickok 200462,922,135 1/60 Holberg et a1. 339-18 2,941,053 6/60 Braunstein et a1.339-18 JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

1. A PUNCH-CARD PROGRAMMER COMPRISING A FIRST INSULATING SUPPORT, ASECOND INSULATING SUPPORT REMOVABLY OVERLYING SAID FIRST SUPPORT, A SETOF INPUT TERMINALS ON SAID FIRST SUPPORT, A SET OF OUTPUT TERMINALS ONSAID FIRST SUPPORT, A FIRST ARRAY OF PARALLEL CONDUCTOR STRIPS DISPOSEDON SAID FIRST SUPPORT, A SECOND ARRAY OF PARALLEL CONDUCTOR STRIPSDISPOSED ON SAID SECOND SUPPORT IN ORTHOGONALLY INTERSECTINGRELATIONSHIP WITH SAID FIRST ARRAY, A THIRD ARRAY OF CONDUCTOR STRIPSDISPOSED ON SAID FIRST SUPPORT AND INSULATED FROM SAID FIRST ARRAY, THECONDUCTOR STRIPS OF SAID FIRST ARRAY BEING CONNECTED TO RESPECTIVETERMINALS OF ONE OF SAID SETS, THE CONDUCTOR STRIPS OF SAID THIRD ARRAYBEING CONNECTED TO RESPECTIVE TERMINALS OF THE OTHER OF SAID SETS, ACARRIER PLATE INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID SUPPORTS, A FIRST SET OF RESILIENTCONNECTORS TRAVERSING SAID CARRIER PLATE AT RESPECTIVE JUNCTION POINTSOF THE CONDUCTOR STRIPS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ARRAYS FOR ESTABLISHINGCONDUCTIVE CONTACT THEREWITH, AND A SECOND SET OF RESILIENT CONNECTORSTRAVERSING SAID CARRIER PLATE AT LOCATIONS REGISTERING WITH INDIVIDUALCONDUCTOR STRIPS OF SAID SECOND ARRAY AND RESPECTIVE CONDUCTOR STRIPS OFSAID THIRD ARRAY FOR ESTABLISHING CONDUCTIVE CONTACT THEREWITH, SAIDCARRIER PLATE AND SAID FIRST SUPPORT BEING SEPARABLE TO RECEIVE A PUNCHCARD THEREBETWEEN WITH PERFORATIONS PENETRABLE BY CERTAIN OF SAIDCONNECTORS WHEREBY CIRCUITS ARE COMPLETED BETWEEN SELECTED INPUT ANDOUTPUT TERMINALS VIA THE ASSOCIATED CONDUCTOR STRIPS AND CONNECTORS.